Derek Jeter would like to see the Alex Rodriguez saga end sooner than later, but understands it won’t.

Mariano Rivera is no longer Rodriguez’s teammate, but he believes in Rodriguez’s right to defend himself against the 211-game suspension handed him by MLB.

“I have been following it and I am aware of it,’’ Jeter told The Post at Thursday night’s launch of men’s underwear company Frigo in the Meatpacking District. “But it’s not like I am running for the newspapers. There have been so many reports. Everybody is looking forward to it being over, but it’s going to drag on for a while.’’

Like Jeter, Rivera isn’t immersed in his former teammate’s drama. However, he admitted if he were in Rodriguez’s position, there would be a challenge.

“I really wasn’t following it, but he has the right to defend himself. That’s all I can tell you,’’ Rivera said. “It’s not difficult; I would have done it, too. Everyone has to defend themselves. In a situation like that it’s hard, we are still human beings.

“Whatever he does, he is a grown-up He has the right to defend himself.’’

Rivera was honored by New Era and had the corner of East 4th and Broadway re-named Mariano Rivera Way for Thursday.

Photo: WireImage

When they were teammates, Rivera often backed Rodriguez after a terrible playoff series. Now baseball’s all-time saves leader isn’t going to abandon him.

Jeter, who recently signed a one-year deal for $12 million and plans on continuing as the Yankees’ starting shortstop said the early part of his offseason program has gone well.

“I started earlier this year, started in early November,’’ said Jeter, who is working on a strength program after suffering two fractures in the ankle, and quadriceps and calf injuries that limited him to 17 games this past season. He will begin baseball activities in January. “I feel great. It’s the first time I have gotten a chance to work out and I am happy I am getting the chance to strengthen it.’’

As for Robinson Cano’s future, Rivera only wants what is best for the free-agent second baseman.

“I told him this before, so I can say it. I want him to do what is right and what is good for him. Not for others,’’ Rivera said. “If he is comfortable playing in New York, he should be playing here.’’

Rivera says he offered Cano advice, but the decision is entirely up to his former teammate.

“I am not telling him what to do. He will make the decision based on whatever he feels comfortable. I don’t know what decision he is going to make, but I hope whatever decision he makes he will be happy,’’ Rivera said. “I tell him what I believe, but that’s my advice. It’s up to him to what he wants to do. The only thing I want him to do is to be happy.’’

Considering Rivera is recognized as the best relief pitcher ever and some argue the greatest pitcher of all time, the fact is he made roughly $169 million pitching.

Now Cano is looking for $310 million and the Yankees would like to keep it in the $170 million range for a player who already has made $58 million.

“It’s a lot of money, definitely, it’s a lot of money,’’ Rivera said. “But again that’s what I saw in the paper. I haven’t talked to him so I don’t know if it’s true or what but it’s a lot of money,’’ Rivera said.

The Yankees and the government of Panama are talking about the Yankees playing exhibition games there in March to honor Rivera in his native country.

“It’s amazing, hopefully it happens,’’ said Rivera, who plans on attending. “It will be something that I will never forget.’’

Baseball's drug program is a joke. What if Conseco had not written his book ? If the newspapers did not break the Balco and Biogenis stories ? If baseball's drug program was not a sham , why did these people pass all of their drug tests. Mr Selig backed its use after the strike hurt baseball attendance and after the book and Mitchell report he is now holier than thou ! If he want to get his creditability and that of MLB , release all of the names on the Mitchell report and all of the results of drug tests on the players and fire the people in his office that leaked the names of these players before a decision was made. I think tha MLB has a lot of drug problems and Lance Armstrong proved that if you have enough money , you can get doctors to teach you how to beat the tests.Follow the money and you will find the truth !

Mo is dead on. All the Arod haters on here are rediculous. Alex is a man. Even if he is guilty, I have never in my life saw someone so disrespected. Bud gave Arod that rediculous suspension now he wants to hide behind rules and regulations. Where were the rules when he was on Letterman. I heard no one calling him big mouth. He grinning all the way. What MLB didnt count on was Alex is not as dumb as they thought. I will shout it as long as it takes and his suspension may be upheld who knows. This has the Yankees written all over it. And where is Torre usually he is so vocal and so negative when it comes to Alex. Like I said good ole boys doing good ole boys a favor.

Mariano should be left alone and not asked "gotcha trap questions" He is one of the few genuine class acts in baseball and I'm sure he's a whole lot smarter than the silly reporters asking stupid questions.

wow, what a dumb article, mo's not defending arod, if he was he'd say "alex would never do that, PEDS"....he's simply stating the obvious, the answer any of us would give to avoid ending it with "He can defend himself.....even though he's guilty"./....